Minister for Justice, Amanda
Vanstone will represent The Criminal Code Amendment
(Slavery and Sexual Servitude) Bill to Parliament later
this year.

A report of the Standing Committee of
Attorney Generals, issued on 4 January 1999, recommended a
maximum 25 years jail for exercising powers of ownership
over another. The report also recommended an additional
offence of deceptive recruiting to protect foreign
employees unaware that their jobs included sex.

The offence of sexual servitude, in
which because of threats, a victim is not free to cease
providing sexual services, would be punishable by 15 years
jail and 19 years where the victim is under 18 years old.

The Federal Government estimates there
are up to 300 female "sex slaves" in Australia
from South East Asia, including Thailand, the Philippines
and Cambodia.

 Source: ECPAT Australia Bulletin No.
51 Feb/March 1999

Some SPAN members are currently
discussing this proposed legislation and have made
submissions to the Model Criminal Code Officers Committee.